Miracle Northern Championship at Winsford Flash Sailing Club

Wayne Atherton and Lizzy Kemp during the Miracle Northern Championships at Winsford Flash © Bill Webber

Seven visitors and three Winsford boats (part of the redeveloping home club fleet) met on Saturday 1st May for two days of competition. They were greeted by almost no wind, with a forecast for even less that day.

Race one started in very little wind, with Wayne Atherton crewed by Lizzy Kemp, getting away from the line first at the pin end but after a couple of minutes, Martin Huett and daughter Grace, out to the left hand side of the beat, got the new breeze first to lead at the windward mark. With large gains or losses possible in the fickle conditions, Martin and Grace skilfully held their lead to the finish with Martyn Lewis and daughter Rebecca moving up to take second place.

The second race started in drifting conditions. A big wind shift soon after the start favoured the boats which started at the committee boat end. David Raynes crewed by Ashley Southwell led at the first mark with Eamon Cuthbert and daughter Lauren second. Eamon and Lauren soon pulled ahead into a safe lead with Roy Symmers and Hazel Miller using local knowledge to work their way up to second only to be swamped by the fleet running in to the leeward mark on a gust from behind. Martyn and Rebecca again finished second to share the overnight lead with Martin and Grace.

Sunday morning started with a more welcome steady force three blowing across the lake. Eamon and Lauren started at the favoured pin end to tack across the fleet into an early lead. However, they were unable to hold their kite on the long square reach as it became tighter, allowing Martyn and Rebecca to pass. All this effort was for nothing , as later in the lap the leading six boats sailed the wrong course allowing David and Ashley to win with Roy and Hazel second.

Race four saw Eamon and Lauren take an early lead but the highlight of the race was the exciting tacking duel on the last beat during which, Wayne and Lizzy pulled through to take the lead from Martyn and Rebecca, just metres from the finish line.

With four different winners to the first four races, the event was wide open going into race five. Eamon and Lauren started well at the pin end but an early shift favoured the committee boat end starters with David and Ashley taking the lead. Despite the course being the same as the previous race, the front six boats all sailed the wrong course again. This time they realised their mistake after two minutes sailing in the wrong direction and went back to rejoin the race. John Aldous and son Philip were the first to see the error of the leaders and had the courage of their convictions to sail into an unassailable lead. The misguided group clawed their way up to near the front with Eamon and Lauren finishing second, winning the meeting by just one point.

W.F.S.C. were pleased to welcome the Miracle Class back and were rewarded by the pleasure of having a cheerful and sporting group of sailors and their families at the club.

Overall Results:

1st Eamon & Lauren Cuthbert (Leigh and Lowton SC) 11pts
2nd Martin & Grace Huett (Draycote Water SC) 12pts
3rd Martyn & Rebecca Lewis (DWSC) 13pts
4th Wayne Atherton & Lizzy Kemp (Delph SC) 14pts
5th David Raynes & Ashley Southwell (LLSC) 17pts